My brother and I had many creative ideas for stories, so we felt that all of those stories needed to be housed under one brand or company. So we came up with GudFit Entertainment, with a focus on moving ideas from imagination, to paper, or to digital media. We want to help others to laugh, or, to at least, be entertained.

What types of productions and publications does Gud Fit create?

Currently we are creating child-friendly comic books with the Super Newts and children’s books with the Adventures of Dorse and Doose. In the future we are looking to release other stories for adults.

Who do you see as your core demographic?

Our main focus is youth and children starting with the little ones. Dorse and Doose are for kids 3 years and up and Super Newts are for those 8 years and up. We keep in mind that when we write and illustrate for the young, it almost always has to go through the hands of many adults, so we try to keep it interesting for both. The youth tend to like things that are considered cool, so being part of the “cool” factor is fun.

Why choose to become an Entertainment group and not just a regular publisher?

When we started this company we always thought production on a large level. Not just publishing, but theatrical performances as well. AJ is an artist and his skill set includes photography, print media, 2D & 3D animation, sculpting, acting, and other artistic crafts. So we did not want to limit creativity to simply one section of the art world.

Why do you want to publish comics?

Comics were a great way to get started and to reach a large group of people. Initially we started out with writing the animated series of Super Newts that ended up being 20 or so episodes. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but once it was all put on paper just how much “man-power” we would need for just one episode we decided to write the comics instead. We wanted to make sure that the Super Newts would be received well by the people, so far so good.

Can you tell us more about the creative teams on your comics, including your webcomic?

The team operates under the Less is More principle, so it’s mostly my brother and myself on the creative end, then we have a technical director, editor, and marketing director. For the comics and webcomics, Antonio and I handle the creative end for Super Newts and Dorse and Doose. We know exactly how we want the story to go so it’s just a matter of agreement and putting in the work to make it all happen.

What are Gud Fit Entertainment’s plans for the future?

We want to continue to expand our brand through different formats like merchandising, video games, animation, and full length featured film that can air on television, internet, or the cinema. We want to occupy a space in the entertainment world with the rest of the great creations that have come before and continue to live on throughout time.

What advice or inspiration can you give to other creators out there?

Though freedom carries responsibility, you should feel free when you create. Work smart, consistent, and follow through. Sometimes there are many steps to take and numerous obstacles in the way, but you have to be a “doer” and not one that is lazy and makes excuses. Don’t spend time comparing yourself to others because you can only be you.

If you are only in it for the money then good luck, but for everyone else you need passion, else your dream will eventually become denied. Also you can’t be afraid to try something new or something outside the box. Don’t be afraid of success or afraid to fail. It may sound weird but not every plan is going to go the way you plan it, so if you see it failing then fail fast so that you can recover and start the next great idea.

Thank you, gentlemen for the wonderful interview and I hope to see more Gud Fit soon!Continue reading →

Major political and moral issues have been in comics for decades now, but who ever really thought that Archie would be a forerunner in modern politics?

The most recent example is an issue that involves “Occupy Riverdale.” The “Occupy Movement” is a pretty big issue and it would stand to reason that this will lead to some pretty big sales for Archie. Any time there is a controversy around a comic book, it usually results in greater sales. Just look at “Life With Archie #16,” the one where Kevin Keller, the male homosexual character, gets married. On March 1st, Archie Comics announced that the issue had sold out. This is mostly because of all the mainstream media coverage and so many people getting in an uproar over the topic of gay marriage.

Speaking of turning a molehill into a mountain, OneMillionMoms.com recently requested that its members send letters to Toys ‘R’ Us that request that they take “Life With Archie #16” off the shelves. The group’s most recent claim to fame was an unsuccessful attempt at trying to get J. C. Penny to drop Ellen DeGeneres as a spokesperson. Having Ellen on your side is like printing money, that wasn’t about to happen.

I’ll admit that I’m not big on politics. I don’t know a whole lot about the “Occupy” movement and I really have no idea which way Americans are going to vote in this next election. What I do know is this, entertainers just want your money and if there wasn’t a market for what Archie is publishing, then they wouldn’t sell very well.

In hopes to localize some of the content that I post every Monday, I asked the owner, Tim Stoltzfus, of my local comic shop, More Fun Comics in Denton, to answer a few interview questions about owning a comic book store. The shop is located at 103 W. Hickory on Denton’s square, between the Abbey Inn and Atomic Candy.

JHB: Why did you want to own a comic book store?Tim: I love comics, and want to have the opportunity to expose others to what I enjoy. Comics and the community around them have done a lot for me over the years, and I wanted to help give back to and expand that community.

JHB: How did you get started as a comic book store owner?Tim: It was really as simple as waking up one day and realizing that it was what I wanted to do, and then pursuing that goal. Educating myself on doing so properly, getting together financing, all those things that go into starting any other business applies to comics as well. I had a little luck involved in getting connected with the Keith’s Comics stores to work together, as well.

JHB: Why open a store in Denton?Tim: We actually bought a previously existing store up here. I have a pretty clear vision for what I think a quality comic book store should be like, and ten years ago there wasn’t one like that in the area. I decided it was a big enough town with a rich creative community that would appreciate a store that dealt in the art of comics.

JHB: What is it like owning a store on Denton’s square?Tim: It is great! I see fresh faces every day, and Denton really is a community of people all trying to build a town that we all enjoy. I love that aspect of Denton the most, in that it really feels like a community of people as opposed to just a bunch of houses that happen to be next to each other.

JHB: How is owning a comic book store different from owning any other type of business?Tim: It is highly unpredictable in ways other business aren’t. Even if my store is perfect and well run, if the comic publishers aren’t releasing product that appeals to my customers, things can get ugly quickly. We aren’t selling hamburgers or toilet paper, we sell a commercial art form where the amount and quality of art on the market can shift quickly on a month to month basis. This works both ways, though. Sometimes a cultural flash point occurs and sales go crazy. When the Watchmen movie came out, in spite of it being a consistent top ten selling book for the previous twenty years, the sales of that book skyrocketed for about six months. It was a pretty crazy period.

JHB: How many hours a week do you spend at this store or working for this store?Tim: On average, I would say I put 70 hours a week into the business. There’s a lot to get done every single week.

JHB: What type of insights have you gained into the world of comic books from being a comic book store owner?Tim: Mostly learning more about the logistical side of the industry. There’s a lot more behind the scenes that goes on than people realize. Several years ago DC Comics took a group of retailers on a tour of their main printing facility in Quebec. Upon seeing the printing process up close, my first thought was a bit of shock at the fact that a single comic makes it through that whole process in mint condition in the first place!
The interview continues once you click over!Continue reading →